Combined abdomen-supporting means and garter belt



Dec. 2, 1958 I P. BLATT 2,862,499

coMBmEi'n ABDMEN-suPPoRTING MEANS AND GARTER BELT Filed oct. 24, 195556.! y FIG? c, Vm-

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/l Trop/V675 United fStates Patent O COMBINED ABDoMEN-SUPPORTING MEANSAND GARTER BELT Paula Blatt, Cleveland, Ohio Application October 24,1955, Serial No. 542,437

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-535) This invention relates to the general class ofwomens wearing apparel and consists of an improved form of maternitygarment having a combined abdomen-supporting means and a garter belt.

The object of this invention is to devise such a garment in' which thereis provided a continuous closed longitudinally elastic band that isadapted to extend in an uninterrupted manner beneath the abdomen of thewearer and about the sacroiliac region of her body as well as theintermediate hip regions, and in which a form-fitting body of elasticmaterial is attached to and depends from the continuous closed elasticband.

Another object is to devise such a garment with means for attachinggarters thereto in such manner as to provide a snug fit of the body ofthe garment about the wearer.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims whenconsidered together with the accompanying drawing. l

Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrating the manner in which the presentgarment is intended to be worn;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating one of the two duplicate blanks from whichthe body of the garment may be formed. v

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely forthe sake of illustration and that there might be devised variousmodifications thereof without departing from the spirit of my inventionas herein set forth and claimed.

A continuous longitudinally elastic band 1 of two-inch width, forinstance, has its two ends sewed together and is adapted to extendentirely about the body of the wearer, the seam being located at therear in the present form of garment.

Duplicate blanks 2 and 3 of power net or other like material are of theform illustrated in Fig. 3 of the present drawing and are sewed togetherat points corresponding to the middle of the front and rear parts of thegarment. These blanks are of approximately triangular form with two oftheir corners squared, corresponding to the positions of the front andrear seems between these two blanks. That is to say, these two blankshave the downwardly extending corners portions 2a, 3a and the frontsquared end portions 2b, 3b and the rear squared end portions 2, 3c. Therear end portions are wider than the front end portions; and theseblanks are so formed and arranged that the lower corners thereof will bepositioned at points corresponding to practically the points ofattachment for the rear for outer garters G. Garters G may be attachedto the front parts of the garment at points corresponding approximatelyto the front middle lines of the wearers thighs. The lower rear edgeportion of the power net blank, in each instance, may be folded uponitself for purposes of reinforcement; and a longitudinally elastic tape5 may be attached along the lower front edges of the blanks 2 and 3 forthe same purpose.

It will be seen that the more narrow part of the garvice ment body isadapted to occupy position beneath the abdomen of the wearers body foruplifting engagement therebeneath, while the wider part of the garmentis adapted to have engagement with the sacroili'ac region of the bodylof the wearer. At the rear of the garment and extending across theinside of the rear seem between' the two blanks 2 and 3, I may provide asatin reinforcement 4 of substantially inverted trapezoidal form; whileat the front I may provide a satin reinforcement 6 of substantiallyinverted trapezoidal form upon' the outside of the power net and :acrossthe front seam between the two blanks 2 and 3.

It is to be observed that the power net blanks have their upper edgesdoubled upon themselves and secured to and along the outside of theelastic band 1 which will extend partially above the upper folded edgeof the power net. However in' the front part, corresponding to thereinforcement 6, the lower edge of the band 1 may be unattached so as topermit extreme freedom of these parts in accommodating themselves to thecontour of the abdomen of the wearer during the progressive stages ofpregnancy.

The reinforcement 6 may have some hidden fulness provided at its upperedge by holding the same and the band 1 in stretched condition whilethey are being sewed together. This, together with the invertedtrapezoidal form of the member 6, will provide an upwardly and outwardlyinclined form for the front part of the garment so as to be mostnaturally adapted for supporting engagement beneath the enlargedabdominal region of the body of the wearer.

In the same manner there may be provided also a hidden fulness in thepower net where it joins the band 1 so as to ensure smooth condition ofthe power net when the garment is applied to the body of the wearer.

It is to be understood that instead of power net I may employ othermaterials with suitable stretch, as for instance elastic satin or lace.

Also, it is to be understood that instead of cutting the blanks so as tobe joined at the front and rear of the garment, as above described, theymay be cut so as to be joined at the opposite sides thereof. The presentform is, however, to be preferred since the blanks are of duplicateform, which is calculated to facilitate manufacture.

The downward tension of the garters at the lower corners of the powernet will serve to hold the same in -firm, snug engagement with the bodyof the wearer according to the contour of the wearers body in thisparticular region, this being made possible by the universal elasticityof the power net or like material that may be employed. i

Thus I have provided a garment that is adapted for snug fittingengagement about the body of the wearer and for effective support of theabdominal region of the wearers body and also iin-m engagement with hersacroiliac region. Furthermore, this garment is of comparatively simpleform of construction and maybe manufactured and sold at a comparativelylow price 'because of the few parts and the duplicate form of the -bodyblanks.

What I claim is:

l. A garter belt and abdomen-supporting means comprising a closed bodyof elastic material of less height in the front than in the rearthereof, said body of material in the front being adapted to engageexclusively beneath the abdomen of the wearers body, and said body ofmaterial in the rear thereof being adapted to have engagement with thesacroiliac region of her body, said body of material being inclineddownwardly from the front and rear thereof towards opposite points atthe two sides of the garment, a pair of garters attached to said body ofmaterial at points corresponding approximately to the front median linesof the Wearers thighs, and a garter attached to each side of lsaid bodyof material at a point Where said downward inclinations thereof meet.

2. The same structure as recited in claim 1 hereof and in whichsaid bodyiof material consists ofduplicate blanks each .of substantiallytriangularform with squared corners corresponding to the front and rearof the rgarment and in which said blanks are connected together at theirsquared corners.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor May 26I 1908 Pratt Aug. 20, 1918 Coon May17, 1927 White Aug. 8, 1933 Schubert June 13, 1944 Blais A'ug. 31, 1954

